My relief at hearing that Leroy was okay was short-lived. Clayton Davenport was an evil man, and his death certainly solved a lot of problems. The look on my friend’s face reminded me that it also opened up a lot more problems.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
I pulled her into a hug. After a few moments, she pushed away.
“He was a horrible husband with few redeeming characteristics, but he was my husband. We may not have lived together, but we made vows, and I honored those vows.” She took a deep breath. “We haven’t seen each other in more than eight years. Two days after he arrives in town, he’s dead.”
“Any chance it was an accident?”
She shook her head. “There’s no way he could have accidentally stabbed himself in the back.”
I cringed. “Is that how? But . . . what was he doing here?”
“I was hoping you could answer that.”
“Me? I have no idea.”
A stocky man wearing a state trooper uniform came outside. “This the owner?”
“Trooper Bob Roberts, this is Madison Montgomery, owner of Baby Cakes Bakery. Maddy, this is Michigan State Trooper Roberts. He’ll be leading the investigation.”
He extended a bear-sized hand and crushed mine as we shook. “Trooper Bob.”
I flexed my hand a few times to regain circulation. As a military brat, I was accustomed to men who liked to show their dominance in various ways. The Admiral had shown me several tactics to deal with bone-crushers. However, I wasn’t sure I wanted to engage the state trooper yet. I glanced at April. “Did you say he’ll be leading the investigation? Why?”
“Separated doesn’t matter,” Trooper Bob said. “Victim was her husband.” He grinned and rolled back and forward from his heels to the balls of his feet. “Besides, murder requires an experienced investigator who isn’t biased.”
“What do you mean biased?”
April was tugging on my sleeve to get me to back off, but it was too early in the morning, and I didn’t appreciate the implication.
He grinned and took off his brown Smokey the Bear hat and rubbed his hand over his bald head. “Well, now no offense to this little lady, but we all know she isn’t a trained investigator.”
It was dark outside, but I could still see the heat go up April’s neck, and it lit a pilot inside me. How dare he insult my friend to her face and in front of me. “Really?” I said innocently. “I know she went through the twelve-week police academy training, and she’s solved a number of cases, including the murder of Mayor Paul Rivers just a few months ago.”
Trooper Bob’s grin wasn’t quite as broad, and the creases in his forehead would likely be permanent if he didn’t stop frowning. “Well, you know what they say. Even a broke clock’s right twice a day.” He chuckled.
I think he expected that we would join in on the laughter. When we didn’t, he looked confused. I was afraid he was about to mansplain his completely inappropriate joke, but I folded my arms across my chest and patted my foot, and I think he finally realized that he was treading in dangerous waters.
“Just a joke. No offense meant. Hope you little ladies know how to take a joke.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. He took a pinch of tobacco, shoved it in his mouth, and returned the pouch to his pocket.
I narrowed my eyes and prepared to launch into him, but April stepped in front of me. “It’s late, and I’m sure Maddy’s tired, so maybe we should get down to business. I’m sure Trooper Bob has some questions for you.”
I didn’t care what questions Trooper Bob had, but it was late, and there was a dead man inside my bakery, again. I was anxious to find out the specifics. “April’s right. Maybe we should go inside where it’s warm so we can talk.”
Baby had been sitting by my side, but when I made a move toward the door, he stood next to me, prepared to accompany us into the building.
Trooper Bob stopped chewing and pointed. “That . . . that . . .”
“English mastiff,” I said.
“Whatever.” Trooper Bob pointed at Baby with one hand and edged his other hand toward the gun strapped to his leg. “He can’t come in. This is a crime scene. Any decent investigator knows you can’t bring a dog, especially a horse like that, on a crime scene.”
“Look, Trooper Bob. This is my bakery, and Baby is my dog. And no one is going to tell me who can and cannot go into my building. So, if Baby can’t come in, then I’m not going in either.”
“Baby is a trained service dog,” April said. “Legally, he’s allowed to go anywhere his owner goes.”
I had to work to keep my face straight and not stare at April in the same You must be joking stare that Trooper Bob was using.
He frowned and pointed at Baby. “That’s a service dog?”
I stood up straight and hoped Baby wouldn’t do something silly like rolling over on his back to have his belly rubbed. “Yes.”
Trooper Bob was stubborn and wasn’t giving up easily. “Where’s his vest and harness?”
“The ADA doesn’t require a vest, but Baby has one,” April said. She turned to me. “Did you remember to bring his vest?”
“Sorry, no. When the patrolmen showed up at my door in the middle of the night, I just focused on getting myself dressed. I’m afraid I forgot Baby’s vest and harness.” I hoped my nose wouldn’t start to grow after all the lies I’d just told.
“The ADA?” Trooper Bob asked.
“Americans with Disabilities Act,” April said.
“I know what it is.” Trooper Bob stared at Baby a few moments, but then he gave up. “Fine, but you watch him.” He glared at me and then turned to April. “If he contaminates my crime scene, I’m holding you personally responsible.” He spit a large wad of tobacco on the ground.
April smiled. “I’m sure he won’t contaminate the crime scene any more than you . . . or any of your men.”
We walked into the back of the bakery. There was a host of men and women snapping pictures, putting little cones on the floor, and scattering black powder over every available surface for fingerprints.
I swallowed the knot in my throat at the mess the platoon had made in my newly renovated building. I comforted myself with the knowledge that at least this time, the killer hadn’t tried to conceal the murder by torching my building. The insurance company would find two murders and two fires in three months hard to believe.
I didn’t see a dead body, so the murder must have taken place in the demonstration area.
Trooper Bob took two of the folding chairs I’d bought for cooking class overflow and set them down in the kitchen. I sat in one, and April was about to sit in the other when he stopped her. “Sheriff, I plan to do my investigation by the book. So, you can wait outside.”
“Wait, I prefer to have April stay,” I said.
“Suspects should be interviewed separately.”
“Suspects?” I glanced from April to Trooper Bob. “You think April or I killed Clayton Davenport?”
He sucked his teeth and rocked back and forth from his heels to the balls of his feet, again. “Miss Montgomery, I just want to ask you some questions.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He glared. “Miss Montgomery, I would appreciate your cooperation.”
“If I’m a suspect, then I should have my attorney present.” I pulled out my phone and swiped until I found Chris Russell’s contact.
He frowned. “If you’re innocent, why do you need an attorney?”
“Prisons are full of innocent people. I don’t want to be one of them.” I pressed Send.
“Maddy, this better be important,” Chris Russell said. “Do you know what time it is?” He sounded out of breath, and I didn’t want to think why since I knew he wasn’t at home.
“Clayton Davenport’s dead in my shop, and a state trooper named Trooper Bob says I’m a suspect. He wants to question me, and I remembered what you said before when Mayor Rivers—”
“I’ll be right over. I happen to be close by. Don’t say anything until I get there.”
I could hear him moving around. I also thought I heard Candy Rivers in the background.
“Great. We’re in the bakery.” I hung up and sat down. “He’ll be right over. He said for us to wait until he gets here.”
I could almost see the steam coming out of Trooper Bob’s ears. He looked like he wanted to bite the heads off nails. “If you need to spit, please do it outside. This is a tobacco-free establishment.”
Trooper Bob scowled and then turned and stomped outside.
April stared for a few minutes and then leaned close. “Maddy, please don’t make him angry. Trooper Bob may act like an old-fashioned, sexist, country hick who wouldn’t know a clue if he stepped on it, but don’t be fooled. That’s just an act.”
“Well, then he must be one helluva good actor.”
“Maddy, I’m serious. Don’t antagonize him. He’s solved a number of difficult murder cases. He’s tough, and he definitely won’t give up.”
“I didn’t kill Clayton Davenport—”
April opened her mouth to speak, but I held up a hand to stop her.
“And before you say anything, I know you didn’t kill him either. But I’m also not going to sit back and do nothing while Trooper Bob accuses one of us of a crime we didn’t do.”
I wasn’t finished, but a commotion at the back door stopped me.
“You have no right to question my client without her lawyer present.”
I turned to April. “Looks like Chris Russell’s here.”
After a few more words, Trooper Bob escorted the lawyer into the kitchen.
“Madison, are you okay?” Chris Russell rushed into the kitchen. He was wearing the same clothes I’d seen him in earlier, although they were wrinkled, and his hair was a mite disheveled.
“I am. Thanks for coming over so quickly.”
Chris Russell blushed a bit and stammered. “Glad to help. I promised to help Candy . . . ah, I mean, Mrs. Rivers with her legal problem and . . .” He coughed. “Anyway, what’s this I hear about Clayton Davenport getting stabbed?”
He didn’t need to be bashful on my account. Both he and Candy were adults. And both were single, as far as I knew. Well, Candy was a widow, and I had no idea if Chris Russell was married. I don’t recall seeing a ring, but regardless, they were adults. What they did was none of my business.
“That’s confidential,” Trooper Bob said. “I’m conducting a murder investigation, and I’m the one who’ll be asking all of the questions.”
We stared and waited.
Trooper Bob turned to April. “Now, if you’ll just wait outside.”
April gave me a look that pleaded with me to be careful.
I smiled.
Baby yawned, walked around in a small circle, and then stretched out on the floor near my chair.
“When was the last time you saw Clayton Davenport?” Trooper Bob asked.
“It was early this afternoon before the concert started.” I turned to Chris Russell. “What time would you say that was?”
He thought for a moment. “Four?”
“Were you there, too?” Trooper Bob asked.
Chris Russell nodded. “Yes. I came down to sample the treats and support the local merchants.”
“Did you get into an argument with Clayton Davenport?”
Before I could answer, Chris Russell interrupted. “Don’t answer that.”
“Why not?” Trooper Bob said.
“Maddy doesn’t have to answer any questions that might incriminate herself.”
“I didn’t kill him. So, I don’t have to worry about incriminating myself. Yes, I got into an argument with him. He was an odious man who argued with everyone he came into contact with. I argued with him. Candy Rivers argued with him. April—”
Trooper Bob smiled. “Go on. I already know that April argued with him too.”
I hadn’t intended to share that. Darn it. April was right. He was a wily one. “Great, then you must know that none of us killed him. So, you can stop wasting time questioning us and go out and find the person who really murdered him. Clayton Davenport was very much alive when he left my shop. And I haven’t seen him since he stomped out at four this afternoon.”
“Is there anyone who can corroborate your story?”
Trooper Bob said corroborate as though it were a dirty word. “If you’re asking if I saw other people after I saw Clayton Davenport, then the answer is yes. If you’re asking if they were with me every second since and can prove that I never came back here and met Clayton Davenport and then killed him, then no.”
“Then what is he doing here? How’d he get in if he wasn’t here to meet you?”
That had me stumped. My mind raced, and my habit of oversharing when I was nervous kicked in. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s not like we got along. We didn’t. I barely knew him. I can’t imagine what April ever saw in him. He knew I couldn’t stand him, especially after the way he treated April. Then, when he came here in his expensive suits and tried to run me out of business by flying in a Belgian master chocolatier and pâtissier, well that just made me angry, which is why I made that stupid bet with him that if I lost the baking contest, he’d win the bakery. There’s no way I would have made a stupid bet like that, especially since I can’t bake very well . . . probably not well enough to beat a professional. But he just made me so angry. I kicked him out. But, when I was walking around downtown last night, I saw his limo was still parked at the Carson Law Inn. But I never saw him. Besides, after the fight we had, he had to know he wasn’t welcome here, especially after what April told me he—”
Chris Russell placed a hand on my shoulder. “Maddy, I think you’ve said enough.”
Trooper Bob smiled. “What did April tell you?”
Chris Russell squeezed my shoulder to prevent me from answering. He turned to the state trooper. “Are you charging my client?”
He waited nearly a minute before responding. “No, but—”
“Then we’re going.” Chris Russell took my elbow and pulled me to my feet. “If you have further questions, please call my office, and I’ll make an appointment.”
Baby followed us outside to my car. I tried to explain, but Russell shushed me until I was in the car and fully out of earshot of the police.
“Maddy, I want you to go home and stay there. If Trooper Bob or anyone else wants to ask questions, promise me you won’t say a word unless I’m there.” He gave me a hard stare. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
He walked around the car and opened the passenger door so Baby could climb in.
I glanced around looking for April, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. However, I recognized her patrol car and knew she was still here somewhere. I backed out of the alley and headed home. I prayed that I hadn’t just given Trooper Bob a reason to lock up me or my best friend.
